Climb on! Rock Climbing Basics

Rock-Climbing Styles

If you’re interested in trying rock climbing, the two most approachable styles are bouldering and top-roping. These methods are beginner friendly, require minimal gear, and pose fewer risks than other varieties.

Bouldering

Bouldering is a style of climbing that sets climbers against short ascents of about 12-16 vertical feet. Bouldering can be done both indoors at specialty gyms using artificial rock faces or outdoors on natural rock. Climbing routes are often graded on a V-scale, where a higher number indicates a higher level of difficulty. A V1 route is more challenging than a V0 route, and so on. Easier routes will feature larger handholds that are more intuitive to access and require less strength and flexibility. Because bouldering routes don’t require extreme ascents, the only safety gear required is a large foam crashpad for outdoor climbs. Indoor climbing gyms will feature soft, squishy flooring throughout climbing areas to make for soft landings should you slip off the wall.

Top-Rope

Top-rope climbing is another style that is beginner friendly while still allowing for taller climbs. In top-rope climbing, a rope attached to your harness runs up through a top anchor and back down to someone on the ground. That person is called the belayer, and they’re responsible for taking in the slack rope as you climb and locking the rope in a belay device to stop unexpected falls (and lower you to the ground once you reach the top of the climb). Though top-rope climbing requires some additional gear, it doesn’t require tons of additional training and offers a more controlled climbing experience for beginners.

Gear Essentials: Top-Rope

For top-rope climbing, you’ll also need a harness, locking carabiner, rope (if you’re climbing outside), a belay device, a climbing partner, and potentially a helmet. Harnesses come in a wide range of sizes, and can be adjusted for a snug fit around your waist and thighs. Harnesses come equipped with various anchor points to carry gear like carabiners, additional rope, and other climbing accessories.

If you’re climbing indoors, rope will be provided for you, but for outdoor climbing, you’ll need to bring your own. Forty meters is plenty of rope for beginners since your ascents typically won’t reach heights requiring more length.

Belay devices come in a few different shapes and sizes, but they’re typically made of machined aluminum that attaches to the belayer’s harness via a locking carabiner. One type of belay device, called a GRIGRI, features a cam mechanism that automatically catches the rope during unexpected falls and makes for an easier time lowering the climber when they’re ready to descend. These are highly recommended for outdoor climbing. Tubular belay devices also help a belayer arrest a fall and lower climbers, but unlike a GRIGRI, they don't automatically engage during unexpected falls.

If you’ll be climbing outdoors in a less-developed area where you run the risk of loose rocks falling on you, a climbing helmet offers excellent protection without adding much weight.

Lastly, you’ll need a climbing partner so there’s someone on the ground to belay for you. A belayer’s job is to carefully watch the climber so they can take in slack rope, prevent falls, and eventually lower their climbing partner to the ground. A basic training course is highly recommended as it will teach you the required terminology, knots, gear, and safety essentials for climbing and belaying.